Capitol Hill, Monrovia – The Presidential Scholarship Program has been extended to all 15 counties, including public high schools, technical and vocational schools, community colleges, and universities. Bill McGill, Deputy Minister for Administration at the Ministry of State for Presidential Affairs, made the statement on Friday, August 7, 2026, during the Executive Mansion’s regular press briefing.
Deputy Minister McGill said that the expansion will lessen the financial burden on Liberian families, especially those of students from underprivileged neighborhoods, while increasing access to higher education and skill development. As nearly a hundred current scholarship holders get ready to graduate this year, he added, that the redesigned program will give priority to public institutions throughout the counties, and the recruitment of new candidates is anticipated to start shortly.
He claims that more than 490 students from seven counties and 22 colleges have benefited from the Presidential Scholarship Program, which was introduced in December 2024 as a merit-based program, according to the Ministry of State for Presidential Affairs. According to Deputy Minister McGill, students must typically maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 in order to be eligible for the academic merit category. However, students with a GPA of 2.5 may also be taken into consideration in cases where there is a clear humanitarian need.
Additionally, he emphasized that all scholarship recipients must complete community service as part of the program, collaborating with their local governments and universities to support community development projects. “The community-service component is designed to ensure that scholarship beneficiaries contribute directly to the development of their communities while pursuing their education,” he said.
According to McGill, the expansion will include community colleges, technical and vocational education facilities, and public high schools that serve students in grades 10 thru 12. He pointed out that the action emphasizes the importance of vocational and technical education in building the nation’s workforce, acknowledging that not every young Liberian will pursue a four-year university degree.
He listed Grand Bassa University, Bong County University, Sinoe Community College, Grand Gedeh Community College, and the University of Liberia’s Sengbe Campus in Grand Cape Mount County as some of the organizations anticipated to gain from the development. According to McGill, the program’s current beneficiary counties—Lofa, Nimba, Grand Kru, Maryland, and Margibi—will also see an increase in the number of pupils who benefit from it. By the end of next year, the government hopes to have all 15 counties fully covered.
Additionally, the Deputy Minister revealed that Orange Liberia, a private sector partner that has backed the program since its inception under a three-year memorandum of understanding, and the Government of Liberia provide an annual allocation of US$200,000 to support the scholarship.
He listed the National Social Security and Welfare Corporation (NASSCORP), Liberia Maritime Authority, Liberia Telecommunications Authority, National Port Authority, and Liberia Petroleum Refining Company as additional supporting organizations. He also announced that scholarship recipients would participate in an inter-university debate on August 13 and 14 at the EJS Ministerial Complex in Monrovia.
Nearly 500 young people are anticipated to take part, according to the Deputy Minister, and on August 24, at Flag Day celebrations, President Joseph N. Boakai will award prizes to individual and institutional winners. McGill stated that applications for a fresh intake will shortly open and advised eligible Liberian students to apply through formal government channels once the application window is announced, with around 100 recipients anticipated to graduate this year.
